For over three decades, the water supply at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base camp in North Carolina, was highly contaminated. Even though military leadership was aware of the contamination, they failed to do anything to remedy the situation. This means that millions of innocent people were exposed to the contaminated water. Many of those affected were pregnant women – their unborn children were also affected.
Was your mother exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune? Were you born with defects, health conditions, or any other ailments that have been associated with the exposure to contaminated water? If so, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit. If you are interested in learning more about legal options available to you, do not hesitate to contact the experts here at our law firm immediately.
Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers are more than ready to take on your claim and help you start the legal process. Our lawyers are helping the victims affected by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and are more than ready to help you start fighting for your rights. If you are ready to discuss the legal options available to you, contact the experts here at our law firm immediately.
A Summary of the Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune
Between the years of 1953 and 1987, the water at Camp Lejeune was highly toxic. Groundwater and well water was contaminated with multiple toxic chemicals, including tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC), trichloroethylene (TCE), vinyl chloride, and benzene. Leadership at the base was aware of the contamination but failed to take any action to address the situation. Millions of people, including Marines, other military service members, their families, contractors, civilian staff, etc. were exposed to the dangerous chemicals. Those exposed developed a host of issues and medical conditions. Pregnant women, specifically, were at high risk of miscarrying; however, in cases where miscarriage did not occur, women gave birth to infants with birth defects or other serious medical conditions.
The Effects of Contaminated Water on Pregnant Women and their Unborn Children
Unfortunately, when a pregnant woman is exposed to dangerous chemicals, like those that could be found in contaminated water, the fetus is at great risk. The chemicals that contaminated the water at Camp Lejeune have been associated with a number of complications and health conditions in newborns. Consider the following points:
- Exposure to PCE or PERC in utero is associated with a higher risk of oral clefts, neural tube defects, and other anomalies
- Exposure to TCE in utero is associated with immune disorders and cardiac defects
- Exposure to vinyl chloride in utero is associated with an increased risk of birth defects, in general
- Exposure to benzene in utero is associated with a higher risk of birth defects like spina bifida and an increased risk of childhood leukemia
If you were born with a birth defect or developed a health condition because your mother was exposed to dangerous chemicals while pregnant with you, you might have grounds to file a lawsuit.
The PACT Act and Your Right to Sue
My mother was pregnant at the time of the Camp Lejeune water contamination. Do I have the right to sue if I have cancer? Do I have the right to sue if I have birth defects? Do I have the right to sue if I have health conditions caused by the exposure to toxic chemicals in utero? Yes – you could be eligible to file a lawsuit under the PACT Act.
What is the PACT Act? In early August 2022, the Senate voted to pass the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) as part of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The PACT Act was signed into law by President Biden on August 10, 2022. The PACT Act gives all those who suffered harm due to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune the right to file a lawsuit against the government and potentially recover damages. The PACT Act creates a two-year window for affected parties (and their families) to file their lawsuits with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
What does this all mean for you? If you were born with a defect or with a medical condition that was directly caused by exposure to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune, you could be eligible to file a lawsuit. For more information about your right to sue, contact the experts here at our law firm immediately.
Your Right to be Compensated
If your lawsuit is successful, you could be entitled to receive compensation. The compensation that could be eligible to recover could include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Mental health services and counseling expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- Legal costs
Here at our law firm, our lawyers are ready to aggressively fight for your right to recover the highest settlement available for your claim. In general, the average value of these types of cases can range from $350,000 to $700,000 and can sometimes even reach the $1 million-dollar mark. For more information about what you could be eligible to recover if your lawsuit is successful, contact us today.
Filing Your Claim on Time
All claims are subject to a statute of limitations, which determines the time that you have to file your claim. How long do you have to file your claim? Under the PACT Act, claimants have a two-year window (starting from the date that the act became law) to file their lawsuits. Failing to file claims on time could result in losing the right to sue. For more information about the total length of time that you have to file your claim, contact us as soon as possible.
How to Prepare to File a Claim
If you are thinking about filing your lawsuit, you should consider the following recommendations:
- Gather all medical records that detail your medical conditions
- Gather documents to prove that your mother lived at or worked at the base camp during pregnancy (this can include military records, work contracts, etc.)
- Seek legal assistance with a lawyer experienced in toxic water lawsuits as soon as possible
If you are unsure of what you should do to prepare to file a lawsuit under the PACT Act, simply contact the experts here at our law firm today. Our lawyers are ready to guide you every step of the way.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Today
Can I file a lawsuit if my mother was pregnant when she was exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune causing me to have issues? Yes – you could have grounds to file a lawsuit. If you are interested in exploring the legal options available to you, contact us today. Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers have decades of experience handling all sorts of claims and are ready to go above it all to fight for your rights. You can trust that our lawyers will handle your claim effectively and do everything necessary to get you the settlement that you are owed.
Would you like to benefit from our free legal services? Here at our firm, we offer free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns. Our Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and provide you with the guidance that you need to begin or even continue your claim (yes, we can help you even if you have already started the legal process elsewhere and you wish to change representation). To benefit from our free legal services, contact us immediately.
Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that you will never be required to pay any upfront legal costs for our legal services. In addition, because we work on a strict contingency structure, you will not be required to pay anything until you win your claim.
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